Fadi Aldeeb, the sole Palestinian Paralympic athlete, wants to show that ‘there is also life’ in Gaza

As athletes paraded down Paris’ iconic Champs-Élysées for the opening ceremony of the Paralympics earlier this week, they did so with their teams, shoulder to shoulder. Yet, Fadi Aldeeb stands apart as the sole representative of Palestine in these Games, a role he embraces with profound significance amidst the ongoing conflict in his homeland.

Aldeeb, a 39-year-old wheelchair basketball player from the Gaza Strip, is competing in shot put at the Paris Paralympics. His journey to this stage has been fraught with personal and national struggles. While he describes himself as “lucky” and “happy” to participate, he also feels the immense weight of representing Palestine alone during a time of intense strife.

Don Riddell, Aldeeb expressed the dual pressures of his role. “It’s like too much stress, too much responsibility, really,” he said. “There’s too much responsibility in this time … to show the people that you are from Palestine. This is the flag of Palestine – we are still alive, we are still here, and to show the people there is also life in Palestine.”

His selection to the Games was an emotional moment. Upon hearing the news from his coach, Aldeeb broke down in tears. Despite the personal pain and the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict, Aldeeb feels a deep sense of duty to convey a message of resilience and hope.

The Palestinian National Olympic Committee became an IOC member in 1995, allowing Palestinian athletes to participate in international competitions. During the recent Paris Olympics, eight Palestinian athletes competed in various sports, though none won medals. Yet, for many, the act of participation was itself a victory.

Tragically, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has claimed a heavy toll. Earlier this month, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported over 40,000 Palestinian casualties over the past 10 months of conflict. The ministry’s figures include both combatants and civilians, with the majority reported as women and children. Israel, in turn, reported having killed over 17,000 combatants in Gaza. For Aldeeb, this has been a period marked by personal loss as well; he has mourned the deaths of his brother and two nephews amidst his preparation for the Paralympics.

“It’s so difficult,” he reflects. “You can imagine that you are doing your sport to be ready for the Paralympic Games, and at the same time, you are also human. You think about your family, about many things; it’s a complicated feeling.”

Aldeeb’s journey has taken him far from Gaza. He has not seen his family in a decade, as his athletic career has led him to Turkey, Greece, and now France. His story is not without its trials. In 2001, during the Second Intifada, Aldeeb was shot by a sniper, resulting in paralysis from the waist down. The injury not only changed his life but also had a profound impact on his family.

“It’s like [it] killed them,” he says, describing the emotional toll on his parents. Despite the challenges, Aldeeb found new purpose through sports, initially pursuing basketball and later athletics. His dedication to his sport is a testament to his resilience and his desire to overcome the hardships he faces.

A shoulder injury kept him from competing at the London Paralympics in 2012, but now, just days shy of his 40th birthday, Aldeeb is ready to make his debut at the Stade de France. As he competes, he carries with him the hopes of more than 14 million Palestinians around the world.

The support from his compatriots continues to be a source of strength. “I get many messages from different friends in Gaza, in the West Bank, around the world,” Aldeeb shares. “So they are supporting me, [they say], ‘We are with you, we are supporting you, so keep going – this is the message from your country.’”